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Wednesday, December 01, 2010

QPR Report Wednesday Snippets and Flashbacks!

- - Loftus Road Winter Flashback!-- For QPR and Football Updates and perspectives throughout the day, visit the QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR and football perspective welcome...Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER____________________________________________________________________________________-- As things stand now, the Hull-QPR game is currently still ON!

Paul Warburton/Fulham Chronicle - Martin Rowlands' QPR career in the balance THE next month is crucial in the QPR career of Martin Rowlands. Boss Neil Warnock admits the fans’ favourite will have forced his way into the first team by then – or been persuaded to go out on loan, with Championship outfit Crystal Palace waiting in the wings.The manager is unsure Rowly would be able to command a regular starting slot – especially with Norwegian international Petter Vaggan Moen lined up for a January arrival, not to mention a midfield bossed by Ali Faurlin and Adel Taarabt – as well as Tommy Smith, Hogan Ephraim and Akos Buzsaky in reserve.“Martin has been a fantastic servant for the club,” said Warnock.“But it’s a bit of a catch 22 for him, because I can’t give him games to get fit when there are others already in top condition.” Fulham Chronicle

David McIntyre Blog - There to be shot at - The table isn’t lying

Matt Connolly wasn’t the only one who had a lucky escape on Saturday.

I had one of my own before the game. After walking through Hammersmith Park and ending up among Cardiff supporters heading down South Africa Road, things turned a bit nasty and a bottle thrown from a group of QPR fans near The Springbok whizzed past my head and smashed near a family of Rangers fans.

Anyway, it was a good game. Rangers were excellent and Cardiff unlucky. Not as unlucky as Dave Jones suggested, but still unlucky.

Jones’ approach for containing Rangers, especially Adel Taarabt, was interesting, and only possible because he has players more likely to exploit QPR’s weaknesses than other Championship teams.

I thought Seyi Olofinjana would have been ideal for doing a job on Taarabt, as he’s a strong, mobile midfielder who can close down but is also effective going forward and able help his team break effectively when they stop Taarabt.

To a large extent, Cardiff did this and did it well – at least in the first half. But they didn’t do so by man-marking Taarabt. Instead they closed Rangers down with their shape – a very disciplined ‘two banks of four’ – and looked to their front two to win the match for them. But in the end, it was Rangers’ matchwinner who made the difference.

I also think the equaliser coming so quickly after the first goal was crucial. The way Cardiff were set up meant they could have frustrated QPR the longer game wore on and the longer it stayed at 1-0, the harder it might have been for Rangers. Cardiff knew this, hence a furious reaction from a couple of their players and their bench after Gorkss’ goal.

A few people have said to me I’ve been harsh on Alejandro Faurlin for suggesting he allows opposing midfielders to run off him at will. I do think he can be easily ‘picked off’, and was on Saturday.

But does it matter? If Cardiff, with the likes of Olofinjana and Peter Whittingham getting into dangerous areas, can’t exploit this enough to beat Rangers, then who can? And in similar attacking situations, Faurlin regularly creates something for his own team.

Five points clear at the top, with a win over Cardiff, doesn’t flatter Rangers. They’re the best team in the division and, like two of their key players – Taarabt and Faurlin – their strengths far outweigh their weaknessness.

The question is whether Cardiff and others will be able to change that during the January transfer window.

Billy Davies’ battle for more money to spend at Nottingham Forest has been well documented, and Jones is also keen to strengthen. Cardiff’s board are due to meet this week to discuss possible signings.

Neil Warnock and the Rangers board have already had that discussion. They would like him to keep the bandwagon rolling without more significant spending, given that the current squad are already on course for a promotion that would lead to a major overhaul of the side in the summer.But that should be taken with a pinch of salt. QPR are like a kid in a sweetshop when transfer windows open, and I’d be surprised if they resist the urge next time around. David McIntyre Blog

QPR OFfficial Site - BALANTA SIDELINED- Angelo Balanta underwent surgery on his injured ankle this week and is expected to be sidelined for up to four months.- The Columbian-born winger, on a season-long loan to MK Dons, has been missing from Karl Robinson's squad since sustaining the injury in the win over Brentford two weeks ago.- Following a successful procedure on Monday and full consultation with his parent Club, MK Dons medical staff will shortly begin Angelo's rehabilitation programme, with a view to the 20 year-old returning to action in early-April. QPR

QPR Official Site - POPPY SHIRTS RAISE £6,507- We offered you - the fans - a unique opportunity to bid for the match shirts worn by the R's players during our npower Championship fixture against Portsmouth. - And you took the offer up in your droves as we were inundated with bids for this one-off auction, raising a staggering £6,507.- The proceeds will be split between QPR in the Community Trust and the Poppy Appeal.- All shirts worn by the Rangers players in the recent 0-0 draw displayed a poppy, highlighting the Club's commitment to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.- No replicas of the limited edition shirts will be made available for public sale.- Congratulations to all our successful bidders and thank you for your fantastic support! QPR